Singh Says Allegations That Foreign Interference Impacted Some Ridings ‘Is Very Serious’

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh speaks to reporters on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Dec. 7, 2022. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says recent allegations based on Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) leaks suggesting that some ridings may have been interfered with by Beijing must be taken “very seriously.”

“There’s some serious concerns around our security with the political interference,” Singh told reporters in Winnipeg on Feb. 28. “That is something that we take very seriously.”

“It should be very clear that none of the experts have said that this in any way has changed the outcome of the election,” he added. “But we have to take it seriously, even though it didn’t impact the entire election. The fact that it impacted potentially candidates or elected officials is something very serious.”

Singh’s comments come one day after he called on the federal government to initiate a public inquiry into the foreign interference allegations. Former CSIS head Richard Fadden and Canada’s former chief electoral officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley, along with a number of Conservative MPs, have also called for an inquiry.

The calls for an investigation follow recent reports by the Globe and Mail and Global News that have cited secret CSIS documents and sources showing widespread election interference efforts by Beijing in Canada’s 2021 federal election.

Supply and Confidence Deal

Singh was also asked by reporters today if he is considering breaking his supply-and-confidence deal with the Liberal government if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fails to call a public inquiry into the allegations of Beijing’s interference.

“We’ve not made a decision in terms of where the government stands on this. We’re going to continue to apply pressure,” Singh said when asked by reporters whether it would become a “non-confidence issue” if Trudeau did not call an inquiry.

“That’s not a decision we’re making today in terms of if we’re going to an election or not, but it is something that we take very seriously,” he later added. “I have made the call for a public inquiry. So far, the prime minister has said that’s not something he’s going to do. We disagree on that.”

In March 2022, the NDP entered into an agreement with the minority Liberal government to keep it in power until 2025 in exchange for national pharmacare and dental plans.

Singh has previously said he would consider calling off the agreement if the Liberals fail to introduce and pass a bill for a universal national pharmacare program in 2023.

The NDP leader said that for the time being he will maintain his position on the matter and will “continue to apply pressure on the government to move forward on an inquiry,” without giving further details of whether or not it could impact his party’s supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals.

Andrew Chen contributed to this report.